Houston Small Summer wedding HELP!

gingergirlk9

I'm having a small summer wedding in Houston, TX.  However I have a huge problem!  I need to narrow down my reception ideas.  However when I did i actually eliminated all of them.  Now I'm back to square one and I do not know what to choose.  I did not like the ones The Knot said fit my budget.  Now I'm getting really nervouse and I need some help.  My colors are light blue, black, and white.  I'm going for a romantic classy wedding.  I haven't picked my dress yet but I'm going for a romantic kind of dress.  We are looking for an indoor wedding.  Some place open instead of a closed in banquet room. 

rien713

What part of town? What's your ballpark budget? You're wanting to have the ceremony and reception at the same venue?

This board is a wealth of info, but maybe a bit more from you can help with brainstorming.

emily.and.will

Did you check out the heights firestation?

gingergirlk9

I would like it in downtown houston, thats were the ceremony is going to be held.  I'm having my ceremony at first presbyterian church off main st. and bissonet. I do not want the ceremony at the same place as my reception.   My budget for everything in relating to a reception is 9500.  That includes food, services, cake cutting, etc. hope that helps

gingergirlk9

I kind of want it in a hotel, that way i could save on finding a hotel for us for the wedding night. or am  I wrong?

STBMrsMartin

what about the restaurant the rainbow lodge?

emily.and.will

hotels can be pricey - but you could look into zaza it's near your ceremony.

i would also suggest Avant Garden - http://www.avantgardenhouston.com/ or Ouisie's Table - http://www.ouisiestable.com/

gingergirlk9

not the Rainbow Lodge,  its going to be in July and I dont want them to burn up.  Also It looks a little on the rustic side. 

Just to let you guys know Im probably going to have about 60 people attending.

emily.and.will

i just thought of it, but for a wedding that small you could also rent out a section of the museum of natural science...

gingergirlk9

the ZaZa from what I have been told is too formal.  Ive checked ousies and its over priced.  the advant garden is too weird in my taste. The museum is kind of weird in my opinion, I'm just saying.

So are you saying that I would be saving money if I split the hotel from the reception

emily.and.will

i'm not sure what you mean by split, but yes you will most likely save money if you do not have your reception at a hotel (especially a hotel which is downtown).

mksmith5

Lovett Inn!!! It's a gorgeous B&B!  I went to an outdoor/indoor reception there once and it was BEAUTIFUL!!! 

Belle101781

Maggiano's. It's in the Galleria area. We did my dad 50th birthday there, with a dj, had about 70 ppl, room to dance, brought our own wine and paid the corking fee. Total cost was about $5000. It came with 2 appetizers (we did a cocktail hour), 2 salads, 2 or 3 entrees, 2 desserts. And we had a cake for him to blow the candles out.
Great service, great food. We had an awesome time!!! 

mtsookasem

Patio on Mercer, Hotel Icon, Alden Hotel, Courtyard on St James, the Parador, Magnolia ballroom, The Majestic, Rockefeller Hall... just a few I have come across.

jobie02

Discovery Green - The Grove?

MC22

I second the Lovett Inn!  My sister had her wedding there several years ago and it was beautiful.

Also, check out Hoffheinz House.  I don't know a lot about it, but it looks nice and they seem willing to work with budgets. 

The Magnolia Hotel is nice, too...

tranjuliet

The Treehouse at the Grove and Cohen House at Rice U are very cute venues.

abramlett79

The Lovett Inn is great EXCEPT that you have to rent it for the whole weekend if you are doing anything wedding related there. It's $4500+ just to rent the facility, but you do get accomadations if you want to stay there Friday and Saturday night.

Don't rule out too many places until you go see them. There's the Garden Center in Hermann Park and actually the Cockrell Butterfly center at the museum is not weird at all. You can rent the lobby and it is really very pretty.

The Alden has a nice ballroom that opens onto a patio I think.

loop0406

Hotel. zaza and magnolia hotel would be too pricy for your budget....

I suggest Maggianos (agree with Belle101781 )

Belle101781

I ditto mtsookasem on Patio on Mercer. I looooove that place!!!

mtsookasem

I wasn't sure if Zaza or Alden were too pricey since she only has 60 guests.

I wanted to use Patio on Mercer myself, but i couldn't afford it for 150 people!

gingergirlk9

I'm waiting for information about the grove.  I saw the picture of the private room at night and the view of downtown was beautiful. 

gingergirlk9

Thank you guys so much for your help!  I don't know what I would do without this board.  I just got tired of looking at magazines that say the same thing over and over again. 
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gingergirlk9

I don't like the grove! they are wanting to charge me  4500 for the food and beverage minimum.  Also a $300 cafe fee.  so its 300 per person.  That is rediculous.  Maybe I should stick to The Tasting Room.